Sound-controller for phonographs.



R. E. FALDL.

SOUND CONTROLLER FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1915.

1,172,346, Patented Feb. 22; 1916.

Attest: @mZa/mz 92/641, Inventor:

by fifl way/6? fim To all whom, it may concern:

,Row Ann E. FALDL, OFxNEW YORIL N. Y.

' SOUND-CONTROLLER roia rnoivosnarns.

' i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22 1916.

Application filed March 9, 1915. Serial No. 13,093.

Be it known'that I, ROWLAND E. FeLDL, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, residing at New York, in the county 1 of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Controllers for Phonoa graphs, of which the following is aspecification.-

This invention relates to sound controllers for phonographs and similar sound reproducing devices, and more particularly to means for regulating the volume of sound issuing from such an instrument and reducing the number of metallic vibrations existing therein, and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the parts, as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

Most phonographs and similar instru-- mentsare provided with a sound box tak ing the vibrations from the needle. This in turn, communicates with a sound box tube which is closed by any suitable means, and just before its termination a tubelead ing to the horn is inserted, forming an elbow with the sound box tube. The closure for the part of the tube beyond such elbow is usually a flat plate or disk threaded into the tube. The purpose of my invention is to provide this part of the sound box tube with a readily insertible controller which will extend far enough into the tube to govern the port leading to the horn to vary the extent of its opening. At the same time, I make the controller of such material that the metallic vibrations are to a great extent absorbed at that point and the sounds delivered through the horn are made softer and more harmonious. v

In the drawings, there is illustrated a preferred form of my invention and its connection with a phonograph.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a phonograph provided with my controller; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the end of the sound box tube and the adjacent part of the horn, showing my controller in place with the port leading to the horn practically open; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the controller in such a place that the horn port is practically closed;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form ofcontroller; Fig. 5 is a view of the same parts, but showing the controller in a different position; and Figs.

6 and 7 are'miniature perspective views of the two forms of the controllers.

In the drawings, 10 represents the usual box of a phonograph provided with a rotatable support for its record disks, one of which is indicated at'l2.. v13 is a needle, 14 is the sound box, 15 the sound box tube and 16 its usual terminal section to which is secured a tone arm 17 (or a tube leading to a horn).

One form of my improvedfcontroller is shown 1n perspective in-Fig. 6. It consists of a cylindrical body .20, tapered or truncated at 21 at approximately an angle of 4l5.. and a head 22 which is provided with i an indicating notation whereby the effect of any partioularposition of the controller upon the quality of the sound may be accertained -by inspection. It is preferably made of cork, either natural or artificial or of some material possessing substantially the same qualities of softness, slight elasticlty and the ability to absorb vibrations.

Cork is the best material now known to me and I prefer to use it.

. If the plate usually employed to close the end of the tube 15 is removed (as it usually may be by unscrewing it from such tube) and my controller is inserted as shown in Fig. 2, it will be notedthat the port indicated at 18 leading to the horn 17 is wide open. If an index point as shown by the arrow (Fig. 1) is marked on the tube 16, the point on thehead opposite such index when the port is thus wide open is appropriately marked if, the usual musical nov All of these parts are of usual. construction.

tation indicating an abbreviation of fortissimo or very loud. If, now, the controller be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 3, the port 18 leading to the horn is practically closed and only a very faint sound can be heard. The point on the head opposite the index under these conditions may be appropriately marked pp, the usual musical notation indicating an abbreviation of pianissimo or very soft. Intermediate points on the head may be marked f to indicate forte or loud and p to indicate piano or soft. It is obvious that intermediate positions of the controller will give varying volumes of sound from the'instrument. 7 But in whatever position the controller be inserted in the tube 15, it will take up and absorb much, if not all, of the metallic squeak or vibration. My theory concerning this effect is that it clings closely to the side of the tube at substantially all points and absorbs the shorter vibrations coinciding with the shriller or metallic sounds and does not allow them to pass into the horn tube. The resultant effect is quite marked whether my theory about it correct or not. V

In Figs. -l-, 5 and 7, there is shown a modilied form of the controller in which in order to insure and promote a close contact between the exterior of the controller and the interior of the tube there is provided a leaf spring indicated at 80 in the form of a flat 1 piece of metal secured at one side of the controller and reverted at 31 to form a rounded terminal. This modified form of the device in no way alters the manner of its use, but the presence of the spring serves as stated to promote the contact between the controller and the tube.

I claim:

1. The combination with the sound box tube and horn tube of a phonograph, of a sound controller comprising a cylindrical plug rotatably fitted within the end of the sound box tube and which plug is made of sound 2. The combination With the sound box tube and horn tube oi a phonograph, of a. sound controller comprising a cylindrical plug rotatably fitted within the end of the sound box tube and which plug is made of sound absorbing material and truncated at an angle at its inner end and provided with a head upon which are displayed notations corresponding to different degrees of volume of sound.

3. The combination With the sound boX tube and horn tube of a phonograph, of a sound controller comprising a cylindrical plug rotatably fitted Within the end of the sound box tube and which plug is made of sound absorbing material and a leaf spring for promoting a close contact between the out side of the plug and the inner surface of the tube.

In testimony whereof I athX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROWLAND E. FALDL. lVitnesses:

MARY H. LEWIS, ALBA L. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

